Hexagram 32, Line 4

The Line Text

Interpretation

**COMMENTARY_TEXT_EN:** Persisting long in an unfitting position, how could one catch any game?

Guidance for Action

**INTERPRETATION:** This line presents a stark and frustrating image: a hunter, full of purpose and energy (a yang line), diligently searching a field, yet the field is empty. The effort is present, but the desired result is absent. The core message is one of misapplied persistence. You are putting in the work, but you are in the wrong place, using the wrong methods, or pursuing a goal that is simply not available in your current circumstances. The commentary clarifies this with a crucial question: "Persisting long in an unfitting position, how could one catch any game?" This points out that the problem is not a lack of endurance or effort—the very qualities of Hexagram 32, Duration—but a fundamental mismatch between the person and their position or environment. To stubbornly persist in hunting in a barren field is not wisdom; it is folly. This line is a powerful warning against confusing stubbornness with perseverance. True, enduring success requires not only consistency but also the wisdom to know when a change of location, strategy, or even goal is necessary. It is a call to stop, assess the environment, and recognize that your talents are being wasted in the current situation.

For Love & Relationships

**GUIDANCE:** This line is a clear signal to stop and conduct a radical assessment of your situation. Continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result will only lead to exhaustion and disillusionment. Do not mistake this for a sign of personal failure; rather, it is a sign of a situational mismatch. Your primary task is to identify the "barren field." Is it your job, your social circle, your creative approach, your investment strategy? Once identified, you must have the courage to leave it. This is not about giving up on your ultimate goal (catching game), but about finding a more fertile hunting ground. Be open to a significant change—a new job, a new city, a new strategy, or a new project. Your energy and skills are valuable, but they must be applied where they can produce a yield. Stop pushing against a locked door and look for one that is open.

For Career & Business

**LOVE:** In the context of love and relationships, this line indicates that your efforts to find a partner or to improve an existing relationship are proving fruitless. If you are single, you may be looking for love in the wrong places or pursuing people who are fundamentally incompatible or unavailable. Your "field" for dating—be it a social scene, an app, or a circle of friends—is not yielding the kind of person you seek. It's time to change your approach and explore new environments. If you are in a relationship, this line suggests a painful dynamic where you are giving your all, but the relationship itself is a "barren field." There is no reciprocity, no growth, and no shared joy, despite your persistent efforts. The foundation of the relationship may be flawed, or your partner may simply be unable or unwilling to meet you where you are. Continuing to invest your energy will only drain you. This line advises a difficult but necessary re-evaluation of whether this partnership is a sustainable source of happiness.

For Financial Matters

**CAREER:** In your career, "No game in the field" points to a dead-end situation. You are likely a hard worker, competent and dedicated, but you are not receiving the recognition, promotion, or satisfaction you deserve. The company may have a toxic culture, a lack of opportunities for advancement, or your specific role may be obsolete or undervalued. Your efforts, no matter how great, are not translating into success. The guidance is unequivocal: it is time to look for a new job or even a new career path. Your skills and work ethic are your "hunting equipment," but they are useless in a barren corporate landscape. Update your resume, start networking, and actively seek an environment where your talents will be recognized and rewarded. To stay put out of a sense of loyalty or fear of change would be to consciously choose to remain unsuccessful.